In 2003, Three parallel rivers of Yunnan protected areas was inscribed on the list of World Heritage by UNESCO.
The protected areas extends over 170 km with an area of 939,441.4 ha in Yunnan Province, China. Three of Asia's great rivers that are Nu River, Lancang River and Jingsha River originate roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters. It is renowned for its nature reserves and places of scenic beauty in this unique region, and being protected by the state.
The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas represent a landscape of river gorges and high mountains. They flow through the Dandanglika Mountain, the Gaoligong Mountain, the Nushan Mountain and the Yunling Mountain, forming a rare and peculiar geography landscape in the world—three parallel rivers without meeting. The shortest straight line distance between the Lancang River and Jinsha River is 66 kilometers and that between the Lancang River and Nujiang River is less than 19 kilometers.
The protected areas include:
- Gaoligong Mountain Nature Reserve
- Baimang Snow Mountain Nature Reserve
- Haba Snow Mountain Reserve
- Bita Lake Nature Reserve
- Yunling Nature Reserve
- Gongshan Area
- Yueliangshan Area
- Pianma Area
- Meili Snow Mountain Area
- Julong Lake Area
- Laowoshan Area
- Hongshan Area
- Qianhu Mountain Scenic Area
- Laojun Mountain Scenic Area
